Fence-weaving machine



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

1Q LEHMBR. FENCE WBAVINGMAUHINB. No.434,281. Patented Augv12,1890.

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I LEHMER FENCE WBAVING MACHINE.

Patented AugQ 12, 17890. y' y UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE. 1 l

ISAAC LEHMER, OF STIIRGIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILFRED A. THOMAS, OF FAVN RIVER, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-WEAVING MA'CHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part Vof Letters Patent No. 434,281, dated August 12, 1890.

Application tiled .Apri1l9, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.- y

Beit known that I, ISAAC LEHMER, of Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Weaving Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specication.

My invention relates to an improvement in fence-weaving machines; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine by means of which pickets can be Woven in the stretched wires, and in which the parts are so constructed and arranged that the machine is supported entirely upon the Wires, and much faster and better work can be done than where the machine is supported upon the ground in the usual manner.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a machine which embodies my invention, taken from opposite sides. Figs. 3 and 4 are front views of the same taken from opposite sides. Fig. 5 is a detached enlarged top plan View of the pivoted gage M and its spring. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detached perspective of one of the guides J, showing the spring-actuated door.

A A represent two of the posts between which the wires B are stretched and to which the wires are secured at each end. No tension devices are used; but the wires are stretched along the line upon which the fence is to be built, and the opposite ends of the wires are securely fastened to the anchorposts A A. The wiresstretch all that is necessary in weavin g the pickets and the tension upon the wires is uniform and all that they will bear.

All of the dierent parts of the machine are mounted upon the vertical post O, which will be of any desired length and size neces-V sary. There will be any desired nuinberof twisting-wheels D, according to the number of strands of wire that are to be used. These Serial No. 348,633. (No model.)

wheels D are mounted in suitable boxes Z, which are secured to the post C and swiveled therein, so as to be revolved freely around in either direction by means of the sprocket'- chain E. Each one of these Wheels has a slot or cut Ef through its outer surface, and this slot connects with the curved slot F, made through the body of the wheel, which curved slot F connects with two short radial slots W, which extend toward the center .of the Wheel.

After the wires are rigidly secured to fixed posts at both ends of the fence the machine is put on the wires by passing the wires Y through the cuts in the outer edges of the wheels into the curved slots F. One of the wires is then passed through the slot G in the outer edge of the box Z, in which the twisterwheel is journaled into its place in the twister, and then the wheel is given a half-revolution, so as to bring the other slot WV opposite the slot G, and the other Wire is then inserted.

In order to turn' all of the twister-wheels sileys H, around which the chain E passes, are

journaled on the side of the post in a line with the twisters, and the peripheries of the pulleys and twisters made to overlap, so that the chain is held in contact with the inner peripheries of the twisters and the whole mechanism supported upon a single post. This construction renders it entirely unnecessary to displace the chain whenever the machine is to be placed upon or removed from the Wires, as would be necessary if the chain were passed around the wheels. The bear'- ing for each pulley is mounted upon the post C, and each pulley is placed in such relation to the twisters as to cause them to be operated simultaneously when the one to which the operating-handles b are applied is turned.

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The handles b are applied directly to one of the twisters near its periphery and outside of the point or line traveled by the wires, as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will revolve around the wires which pass through that twister without striking or in any manner interfering with them.

Secured to the boxes in which the twistcrs are journaled are a suitable number of guides I, according to the number of twisters used, and these guides are made box-shaped, so as to guide the pickets through the twisters located below the upper one. These guides are closed upon three of their sides, and upon their fourth side at their upper ends they are closed by the spring-actuated doors J, as shown in Fig. 5, which retain the pickets in place until the machine is moved forward ready to allow the last picket inserted to be woven into position. These spring-actuated doors J, as the machine is moved forward on the wires, are opened by the pressure of the picket and then automatically close after the picket has moved out. These doors serve to guide the picket into place until it has reached the foot K as it drops. Pivoted upon the side of the upper end of the post C is the gage M, which regulates the height of the paling, and which is held in proper position by a sensitive spring M', as shown in Fig. 4.

In placing a paling in the guides this gage moves back horizontally out of the way from the pressure of the picket against it, and then when the paling is allowed to drop this paling passes through the two guides and strikes the foot K, depressing it until the gage snaps over the top of the upper end of the paling. The foot K is suspended by means of a spring O, which is' fastened to thc post at its upper end, and which serves to support the foot in position. This foot is made to move vertically parallel with the post C by means of guides secured to it. As the paling drops upon the foot the spring O gives sufficiently to allow the upper end of the paling to drop below the gage, and then the upward tension of the spring serves to raise the paling so that its upper end strikes against the under side of the gage M. Even should the palings not be of exactly the same length, their upper ends will be on aline with each other, because the spring-actuated foot will raise each paling against the gage. Near the upper end of the post is secured a metallic bearing P, upon which is pivotcd a segment Q, and pivoted upon the post near its lower end is a second segment Q, and cach of these segments moves a spacing-rod R, which serves to regulate the distance between the pickets. These two segments Q are operated by the connecting-rods S, which are pivoted at their inner ends to the operating-lever T. Each of these spacing-rods R has a shoulder or stop R formed upon it, and these shoulders may either be stationary or adjustably secured thereto, as may be desired. It the palings are to be placed at a uniform distance apart, the shoulders may be east or formed as a part of the rods; but if it is desired to make the parts so that the palings can be put at diiferent distances the shoulders may be made detachable and adjustable. These shoulders are made to bear against the next to the last paling when the rods are forced backward to their greatest extent; but when the lever T is operated the segments Q force these rods R outward, and thereby push the machine along the wires away from the pickets. Each time that the machine is to be moved it is only necessary to raise the outer end of the lever T, when the forward movement imparted to the rods will push the machine the desired distance.

'As this machine is supported entirely by the wires, and can be freely removed from them and returned to position whenever so desired without having to remove the operA ating-chain or any other part, it will readily be seen that the machine is more easily opcrated and that a greater amount of work can be done with less help than can be done with those machines which are supported upon the ground, and from which the operating-chain must be removed whenever it is desired to remove or replace the machine upon the wires. The guides greatly facilitate the putting in of the pickets, as when once entered through the upper twister they require no further attention, but will at once drop through the guides onto the foot-and will be raised to their proper position against the top gage. A single movement of the lever T will then move the machine ahead, and a turn of the twister-handles makes it ready to receive the next picket.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a fence-machine, the combination of a supporting-post, the twisting-wheels journaled thereto, and longitudinal guides which extend from one twister to the other, for the purpose described.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of the suppo1'ting-post,the twisting-wheels, journals therefor secured to the post, and lon,- gitudinal guides which have one end secured to the upper edge of one journal and its opposite end to the lower edge of the adjacent journal, substantially as shown.

3. The combination of the twisting-wheels with the guides through which the picket is passed, and the spring-actuated doors or stops applied to the guides, substantially as speci fied. 4. In a fenceweaving machine, the combination, with the supporting-frame, the

twisters journaled thereto, and a mechanism for operating the twisters, of a vcrticallymoving spring^aetuated foot at the bottom of the frame, and a horizontally-springactuated gage at the top of the frame, substantially as described.

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5. The combination of the twisting-Wheels, rods which are operated by the segments, the guides through which the pickets are substantially as set forth. 1o passed, the spring-actuated foot applied to In testimonywhereof I afx my signature in th lower end of therpost C, and the springpresence of two Witnesses.

5 actuated gage, substantially as described. ISAAC LEHMER.

6. The combination in a fence-machine of Witnesses: the segments, the connecting-rods and the FRANK S. PACKARD,

lever for operating them, withthe spacing- AMES THORNTON. 

